Philosophies open for discussion

Life Manifested and Unmanifested

The forms of life that are subject to birth and death vs “The One Life beyond form”, that which “is not only beyond but deep within every form as its innermost invisible and indestructible essence.

The Ego and the Deeper Presence

“Am I one of two? If I cannot live with myself, there must be two of me: the “I” and the “self” that “I” cannot live with.

The Ego is a sense of self derived from the content and activity of the mind. It is “a mental image of who you are, based on personal and cultural conditioning.”

The ego regards both the past and the future as very important, but not the present. The mind interprets the present through it's view of the past, or reduces it to being a means to an end.

There is a deeper presence than the ego. By observing your thoughts, you may become aware of this deeper presence as it “listens” to the “thoughts” of the ego. As one becomes aware of the deeper self, we are able to tap into “the joy of being”.

Life Under the Power of the Ego

Separation- “an opaque screen of concepts, labels, images, words, judgements and definitions” this screen “blocks all true relationships” and “creates an illusion of separateness”.

Resistance- The ego's defense mechanisms when it's identity and hopes are challenged

Emotional Pain- Every emotional pain we experience throughout life leaves behind a residue of pain which becomes lodged in the mind and the body, and which colours our reactions to further experiences.

Loss of Being- When experiencing a moment of inner stillness, we feel “a subtle but intense joy, love and peace”. Unfortunately, this stillness is lost when the mind begins to think about it.

Life in the Now

The key to becoming free of the egoic mind, with all it's consequences, is to become deeply conscious of this present moment.

Connectedness- becoming aware of your true reality

Acceptance- “to surrender is to accept the present moment unconditionally and without reservation”

The Joy of Being

Ways of Encouraging Transformation

Watching “The Thinker”- Observing and becoming aware of your thoughts, reactions and emotions

Watching “The Pain Body”- Letting go of our stored emotions by becoming aware of their source

Focusing attention on the present-Being intensely aware of the details of every moment without thinking about or labelling them

Awareness of Nature- Truly experiencing the world around us

Feeling the “inner body”- Feeling and sensing the life in every part of our physical bodies

Breathing- Conscious breathing to assist in meditation, being present, and feeling the life within

Acceptance and Surrender- Connecting to “being” rather than the ego

Experiencing the Unmanifested

Silence- By paying more attention to the silence than to the sounds, the mind becomes still, and one enters the realm of the Unmanifested

Space- On atomic and sub-atomic scales, our world is made up of mostly empty space. The Unmanifested pervades all things, but empty space is as easy to overlook as silence.